Man Who Climbed KTLA Tower Agrees to Come Down After Woman From His Church Offers to Help Him

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Three hours after climbing up KTLA's iconic radio tower on the Sunset Bronson Studios lot early Wednesday evening, a man identified by police as "Chris" came down on his own after a woman who recognized him from church offered to help him.

A man who spent three hours perched on the KTLA tower was in handcuffs after climbing down on his own on May 11, 2016. (Credit: KTLA)

The man -- wearing what appeared to be a green hooded Boston Celtics sweatshirt -- began climbing the tower around 4:45 p.m., leading police to shut down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood from the 101 Freeway west to Gower Street.

He was still on the tower, some 80 feet up, some two hours later. At one point, he appeared to be smoking and talking on a cellphone.

"Of course, we're hoping that this will be peacefully resolved and we can get him to come down, but we do have the Fire Department on scene in case he does decide to jump," Aguilar said. "It does appear as though he's taking his time up there."

Rescuers spoke to the man more than two hours after he climbed up the KTLA tower on May 11, 2016. (Credit: KTLA

Just before 7 p.m., two fire engines extended their ladders toward the tower, and negotiators approached and began talking to the man. He spoke to them but turned and moved several feet higher up on the tower.

Three inflatable air cushions were placed at the base of the white metal tower.

Anita McMillan-Murphy saw the incident unfolding on television and realized she recognized the man from the First Baptist Church of Hollywood.

The tower is at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Bronson Avenue in the heart of Hollywood.

Police and firefighter respond after a man climbed the KTLA tower on May 11, 2016. (Credit: KTLA)

The 160-foot radio tower was in 2014 taken apart and relocated to that site -- its original location -- amid construction on the lot. It reappeared in March 2015. It sat for many years at Van Ness Avenue in Sunset Boulevard, hanging over the nearby 101 Freeway, a familiar site for commuters.

Originally erected in 1925, the tower is behind a fence.

KTLA's call letters have been displayed on the tower for more than six decades.